Wire-bale-tie machine



{No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. A. LAIDLAW.

WIRE BALE TIE MACHINE No. 408.114. Patented July 80, 1889.

g 0 Q Q 0 O Q 0 0 an 2 3 mm Q NN VMN kw Saw a 3 N. PETERS, Phnmumu m her, wahinglcn, DJ;

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

W. A. LAIDLAW.

WIRE BALE TIE MAGHINE.

110.408.114. Patented July 30, 1889.

Nv PETERS PhnloLkhngr-apher. Wuhlngicn, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. LAIDLAIV, ()F CHEROKEE, KANSAS.

WlRE-BALE-TIE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 408,114, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed August 28, 1888- Serial No. 283,967. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. LAIDLAW, of Cherokee, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in ire-Bale l ie Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention is an improvement on that for which a patent issued to me on October 26, 1886, Serial No. 351,517.

The invention, relates to machines for twisting the tieloops of bale-ties and stretching and cutting the same; and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is an elevation of the machine, and shows the twisting devices at one end and the stretching and cutting devices at the other. Fig. II is a detail top view of the benchbeam of the machine, and shows the boltholes for adjusting the location of the block that carries the stretching and cutting devices to regulate the length of the ties. Fig. III is an enlarged top View of the clamping and twisting devices for the formation of the tieloop. Fig. IV is an enlarged side view of the same, showing the clamping-lever thrown back to allow the insertion of the loop-wire. Fig. V is a like view, and shows the lever thrown forward in position for clamping the wire that composes the loop during the twist ing of the same. Fig. V1 is an enlarged vertical section taken 011 line VI VI, Fig. IV, and shows a detail of the bifurcated lever and its pivotal attachment. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail perspective of the base of the twister-frame, and shows the spline or trackway on which the supporting cross-head of the spring-shaft slides. Fig. VIII is an enlarged detail perspective of the springshaft and its cross-head. Fig. IX is an enlarged detail perspective of the twistershaft, and shows the wire for a fresh tie bent to catch in the twister, in the bed-slot of which it is seated. Fig. X is a like view after the bifurcated lever has clamped the wire around the loop-former at the end of the twistershaft and brought the wire together ready for twisting. Fig. XI is an enlarged detail perspective of the tie-loop and twist after the operation of the twister. Fig XII is an enlarged top view of the stretching and cutting device. Fig. XIII is a side view of the same, and shows the lever of the stretcher and cutter slightly raised and its cutter-point nipping the wire against the pivoted anvil-bar. Fig. XIV is a like view showing the lever of the stretcher and cutter elevated until the wire is stretched taut and the pendent rod of the anvil-bar is in contact with its rear bufferblock. Fig. XV is alike view, and shows the severance of the wire by the cutter. Fig. XVI is an enlarged detail of the bench-beam, and shows a front view of the hooks that hold the bale-ties after construction; and Fig. XVII is an enlarged vertical section taken on line XVII XVII, Fig. XVI, and presents a side view of said hooks. Fig. XVIII is a horizontal section on the line XVIII XVIII, Fig. VI.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures represent like parts in all the views, 1 represents the bench-beam of my machine, 2 the legs that support it, and 3 the screw-bolts by which the bench and legs are secured together.

The bench-beam and legs are preferably made of wood, the reciprocating drive-cord of hemp or other fiber, and the other parts of the machine of cast-iron, steel, or other metal, according to the requirements of the various parts: For instance, the point of the cutter, the face of the pivoted anvil, and the twistershaft should be of steel, and the spiral springs would preferably be of either brass or steel.

at represents three vertical guide-posts, and the channel-grooves in which the ovato-oblon g foot stirrups 6 slide, their apices being adjacent to said inner channel-grooves. The said ovato-oblong stirrups are suspended by a reciprocating drive cord 7 from the flanged windlass-drum 8, around which said cord works, preferably with a double lap, and to which drum the middle of the drive-cord is secured by the staple 9.

10 represents the bevel drive gear-wheel that operates the twister, and to which wheel the said drum is secured by screw-bolts 11. The bevel drive-wheel is fast on its axle 12, which has loose bearings 13 within the pedestals 14, that rise from the bed-plate 15, to

which they are rigidly connected or may be cast integral. The said bed-plate is secured to the bench-beam by the screw-bolts 16. A stay-arm 17 is rigidly secured to the outer end of the axle 12, or may be cast integral therewith, and when by the operation of the stirrups (as they are pressed down by the operator) the bevel drive-wheelis turned the stayarm rotates with its fast axle until, having made a revolution,itis stayed by the projecting buffer-pin 1S. Oil-ducts 19 provide passage for the lubricant to the bearings 13, in which the axle 12 of the bevel drive-wheel works.

20 represents the bed-plate of the twisterframe, which is secured to the bench-beam by screw-bolts 21. Pedestals 22 rise from said bedplate, with which they may be cast integral, and within their bearings 23 carry the rotary twister-shaft 24:, to which, on its inner end, is rigidly secured the beveled pinion 25, which meshes with the drive bevel-wheel 10, so that whenever that is actuated by the operators foot in the stirrup the said bevel drive-wheel makes one revolution and the small bevel-pinion and the twister-shaft it carries make three revolutions, as shown.

The number of the revolutions of the twister-shaft may be increased or diminished by the substitution of a smaller or larger bevelpinion on said shaft, if it is desired to make either a longer or shorter twist to the tic-loop; but a triple twist is amply sufficient for ordinary tics, and I prefer to give that degree of twist.

The twister-shaft, when seated in its bearings, is retained in its seat by a key-pin 26, between which and the inner pedestal is mounted an anti-friction washer 27. The former end of the twister-shaft is flattened at 28 to allow play for the bifurcated ends 29 of the clamping-lever 30, which lever is pivoted to the bench-beam by the bolt 31. The loopformer end of the twister-shaft is provided with a slot 32, in which the wire 33 is seated preparatory to forming the loop, and also has a thin projecting lug or former 34, around which said wire is bent to shape the tie-loop 35 by the pressure of the bifurcated arms of the lever 30. Oil-ducts 36, that pass through the tops of the pedestals 22, lubricate the twister-shaft.

A spline or tongue 37 is rigidly set into and projects from the bed-plate 20, or may be cast integral therewith, and on said tongue the slot 38 in the baseof the cross-head 39 is seated and slides thereon. This cross-head carries one end of the shaft 40, that is actuated by the spiral spring 41, which is mounted on said shaft. The other end of the shaft has its bearings 12 in the pedestals 43, that surmount the bed-plate at, which is secured to the bench-beam by the screw-bolt a5, and is lubricated by oil that passes through the ducts 46, which pass through the top of the pedestals to said shaft. A projecting dovetailed lug 47, that extends from the front of the cross-head, is embraced by the recess 48,

flaring downwardly and having its sides beveled, andit is situated between the bifurcations of the clamping-lever, which dovetailed lug is thereby firmly gripped by the same. It will thus be seen, in the operation of the twisting parts of the device, that as the said lever clutches the wire as it is brought forward by the operator it forms the tie-l0op, as shown in Fig. X, and as it embraces the lug 47, that projects from the cross-head which carries the bale-wire ahead of the loop, as shown in broken lines in Fig. III, it drives the shaft back (compressing the spring that is mounted thereon) sufficiently to provide length beyond the tie-loop for twisting the wire. The clamping-lever thus tightly embraces the wire as it shapes the tie-loop around the former of the twister-shaft, and as it leaves its embrace of the former it simultaneously embraces the projecting lug from. the cross-head that carries the wire, so that it does not lose its hold of said wire during the whole operation, and as the cross-head and its spring-shaft give way before the pressure of the lever it is evident that, while the wire is securely held to the level of the work, at

the same time a sufficient length of parallel wires is provided beyond the former of the twister and the tie-loop that has been shaped around it on which to effect the twist, and the said two strands of wire are thus held while the operator places one foot in the stirrup, which at the time is elevated, and as he forces it down in its channel-grooves within the guide-posts the cord 7 rotates the drive bevel gear-wheel to make one revolution, the stay-arm 17 on the axle of the wheel passing round from one side of the stay-pin 18 to the other, where it is again stayed. In effecting that one revolution of the drivewheel three revolutions of the small bevel-pinion and its drive-shaft are thereby effected, and in consequence a-triple twist of the double strands of the wire is secured. It matters not whether the twist is made to the right or the left, for it will equally well secure the tie-loop. In fact the twist will be alternately a right and a left hand one as one bale-tie after another is made. The operator presses down the one stirrup and then the other, according as to which at the time being is elevated.v

Aftcrthe bale-tie is twisted and stretched the clamping-lever is returned to its inoperative position for future service, the wire is then cut, and the new-formed tic falls within the depository-hooks 80 and the spiral spring 41, that is mounted on the shaft 40, and then, as'it presses against the pedestal 43 and the crosshead 39, slides the latter along on the spline or tongue 37 ready for a renewed operation.

I will now proceed to describe the lengthadjusting, stretching, and cutting devices, &c., in my invention.

50 represents a head-block that carries the stretching and en tting devices of the machine. The said head-block is secured by screw-bolts 51, which are seated in holes 52 in the headblock and are passed through such of the holes 53 in the bench-beam as will bring the arrow 54 in line with the indicated measurement 55 on the side of the said beam, to accord with the length required for the baleties, and are there secured by screw-nuts 56. As adjusted in Fig. I, (which shows the machine with part of the bench -beam broken away for convenience of eXhibit,) the headblock is adjusted on the beam for the manufacture of ties eight feet six inches in length.

The graduated table shows lengths of adjustment from seven feet to nine feet three inches in length. The graduations may be decreased in length still further by the insertion of other holes duly located in the beam and increased in length by adding to the length of the beam and furnishing it with the necessary holes for the lengthened ad j u stment of the head-block and increased length of the bale-ties.

57 represents a yoke or bail, which is pivotally secured to the head-block by a screwbolt 58, that passes through both the yoke and head-block and is held in its seat by the screw-nut 59. The said bolt also carries the pivotal anvil-bar60, whose top has a (preferably steel) face 61, and which anvil-bar is provided beneath with a pendent arm 62. Free action is allowed for said arm within the limits of the adjustable buffer angleplates 63. The said buffer angle-plates are secured to the head-block by screws 64, that pass through the head-block and through the elongated slots in said buffer-plates, and on the proj ecting ends of which screws the thumb-socket screws 66 engage and clamp the buffer-plates to their adjustment, the pressure of the thumb-screws being brought to bear on extended surfaces of the plates by intervening washers 67, that increase the frictional surface. The buffer-plates (before the tightening of the thumb-screws) are adjusted by the movement of said plates within the limit provided to the screws 64 in the elongated slots (35 until they reach the right locations to insure the stay of the swinging pendent arm of the anvil-bar, in the first place, against the forward buffer to present the anvil-face in position for the steel cutting-edge of the pivoted lever 69 to nip the wire of the bale-tie for the stretching of the same, and, in the second place, when under the impulse of the lever the said anvil-bar turns on its pivot to stay the swing of said pendent arm against the rear buffer-plate when the anvil-face has reached the limit to which the wire will stretch in straightening, when, the anvil-bar becoming stationary, the sharp edged lever, still progressing, cuts the wire.

The lever 69 is pivoted to the yoke 57 by a bolt 7 O, that passes through loose bearings 71 in both arms of said yoke, and which bolt may be keyed or otherwise secured in its seat. A spiral spring or springs 2 (I show one only, but twin springs may be used if desired) is provided with hooks 7 3 and 74, the former of which extends forward from said springs and clasps the bolt 7 O, and the latter extends back at its rear and is secured to the staple 75, that is fast-seated in the head-block. This spring performs a reactionary part to return the yoke or bail to its normal position after its elevation duringthe stretching and cutting of the wire.

is a fulcrum set-screw whose thread engages in its screw-seat 77 in a projecting lug 7 8, that is cast integral with the yoke or bail 57. A jam-nut 79 on the set-screw stiffens its adjustment.

The lever 69, when at ease, rests on the project-ing block 80, that is secured by a screwbolt 81 to the head-block, and when raised and it comes in contact with the set-screw 7 6 it elevates the yoke until said yoke strikes the projecting buffer-plate 82, that is secured on top of the head-block by the screw-bolt 83, which block limits the forward upward movement of the yoke. The backward movement of the yoke is also stayed at rest in its normal position by a rear buffer-plate 84, which is secured on the top of the head-block by the screw-bolt 85.

86 represents depository swing-l1ooks,which are secured by staples 87 to the delivery side of the bench-beam of the machine. Hooks 88, that extend from the top of the depository hooks, clasp the top of the beam when the hooks are in their operative position, so as to keep said hooks in projection ready to receive the finished bale-ties as they are cast from the twister and anvil-bar.

When the machine is being moved or not in use, the depository-hooks may be swung out of the way against the beam by elevating said hook into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. XVII, so as to unseat the top hook, and then turning it into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. XVI, when said top hook, which before had looked the depository-hook in its operative position, now locks it in its inoperative position, closely folded against the beam.

89 represents a vertical stop-rod that is secured by any suitable means to the back of the bench-beam to prevent the casting of ties on the wrong side of the machine. I have shown one of said rods; but more than one can be provided, if desired.

The operation of the twister having been already explained at the conclusion of the description of its parts, I now proceed to describe the operation of the measurer, stretcher, and cutter. The head-block 50 is adjusted and bolted to its position on the bench-beam in accordance with the length required for the bale-ties. The wire having been placed in position, the twister and the loop are formed and twisted. under the action of the bevel-gear operated by the stirrups, as heretofore explained. The bifurcated clamping-lever, after the forming of the tie-loop and twisting of the twofold strands, being thrown back ready for the next operation, the buffer-plates 63 ITO having been set to insure the right presentation of the anvil-bar, and the set-screw 76 adj usted so that when the lever 69 is elevated against it the cutting-edge 68 of said lever will nip the bale-wire on the anvil-bar,whose pendent arm then rests against the forward buffer-plate. The lever is then raised, which, after it comes in contact with the set-screw, elevates the pivoted yoke 57 with it. The steel cutting-edge of the lever meantime tightly nips the wire of the bale-tie, as shown in Fig. XIII, and as the lever and yoke are still elevated forward the wire is eiiiciently stretched by the time the lever and anvil-bar have assumed the positions shown in Fig. XIV. Then it will be seen that the pendent arm of the anvil-bar has swung into contact with the rear buffer-plate, and the face of the anvil has, in consequence, become stationary; but the lever and yoke have yet to move forward to the position shown in Fig. XV, when, the cutting-edge of the point of the lever having reached directly above the forward edge of the face of the anvil-bar, the edge of the leverpoint nips off or cuts the wire at the given length, as indicated by the arrow, as accords with the length of bale-ties required. Under the rebound of the taut wire when cut, the loop of the bale-tie is unseated and projected from the former on the twisting-shaft, and the finished bale-tie drops into the depository-hooks, which are of sufficient size to hold a bundle of ties and hold them in convenient position for bundling and tying up..

I claim as my invention 1. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the cross-head rest that supports the wire when twisting, the dovetail lug that projects from said cross-head, and the bifurcated clamping-lever provided with a recess between its forks flaring downwardly and having beveled sides, the sides of which clutch the dovetail lug projecting from the crosshead and clamp the same to hold the cross- .head with the wire it carries while the strands of the tie-loop are twisting, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the cross-head rest that supports the wire in front of the twister-shaft while twisting, the dovetail lug that projects'from said cross-head, the bifurcated clamping-lever provided with a recess 48 between its forks, the

sides of which clutch the lug projecting from the cross-head, the shaft that is carried by the cross-head. at one end and in bearings in the pedestals 43 at the other end, and the spiral spring mounted on said shaft that allows the cross-head to retreat before the clampinglever and springs it back again to its work, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the cross-head rest 39, provided with a slotted base, the lug that projects from said cross-head rest, the clam ping-lever, the clutchhold provided in the crotch of said lever to clasp said lug, the spring-mounted shaft integral with the cross-head, having bearings within the pedestals 43, which are secured to the head-block, the twister-frame, the rotary twister-shaft, the former on the end of said shaft, and the tongue that projects forward from the twister-frame on which the slotted base of the cross-head slides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a wire-bale-tie machine,the combination of the head-block and bench-beam of the machine to which said head-block is secured, the bolted connection of the head-block to the beam adjustable tothe length of the bale-ties, the combined stretcher and cutter lever, the cutter-edged point of said lever, the pivot on which said lever works, a set-screw for adj usting said lever, and the anvil-bar on which the cutter end of said lever operates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the head-block, the combined stretcher and cutter lever, the cutter-edged point of said lever, the anvil-bar, the yoke 57, the pivotal connection of said yoke to the headblock, and the pivotal connection of said lever to said yoke, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the adjustable head-block, the yoke pivoted to said head -block, the combined stretcher and cutter lever pivoted to said yoke, the anvil-bar, and the fulcrum set-screw that works in the projecting lug of the yoke, arranged to adjust the presentation of the edged point of said stretcher and cutter-lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the pivoted yoke, the combined stretcher and cutter lever pivoted to said yoke, the fulcrum set-screw, by means of which said lever is adjusted to its work, and the anvil-bar that rocks on the pivot-bolt of said yoke, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the pivoted yoke, the combined stretcher and cutter lever pivoted to said yoke, the rocking anvil-bar that is self-adjusting on the pivot-bolt of said yoke, the steel face of said anvil-bar that carries the balewire at the point of intended severance, and the pendent arm of said bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the pivoted yoke, the combined stretcher and cutter lever pivoted to said yoke, the fulcrum set screw by means of which said lever is adjusted, the self-adjusting anvilbar that rocks on the pivot-bolt of said yoke, the pendent arm of the anvil-bar, the adjustable buffer-plates that relatively stay the rock of said arm topresent the face of the anvil at the position for the grip on the wire of the edge of the stretcher and cutter lever and at the position for said edge to commence to effect its out, and the set-screws that fasten said adjustment of the bufferplates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the pivoted yoke, the combined stretcher and cutter lever, the fulcrum setscrew by means of which said lever is adjusted, the self-ad j ustin g anvil-bar, the adj ustable buffers that limit the movement of said anvil-bar, and thebuffer-plates secured on top of the head-block that limit the movement of said yoke, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a wire-bale-tie machine, the combination of the adjustable head-block, the yoke pivoted to said head-block, the combined stretcher and cutter-lever pivoted to said yoke, the fulcrum set-screw by means of which said lever is adjusted, the self-adjusting an vilbar, the adjustable buffers that limit the movement of said anvil-bar, the reactionary spring 7 2, that after the elevation of the pivoted yoke withdraws it to its normal position, and the rest-block 30, on which the said lever reclin es when inoperative, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a wire-bail-tie machine, the combination of the adjustable head-block, the graduated scale to which said head-block is adjusted, the combined stretcher and cutter lever pivoted to said head-block, the fulcrum set-screw against which said lever is adjusted, the self-adjusting anvil-bar, the vertical stop-rod that prevents the fallingof the bale-ties on the wrong side of the machine, the folding depository-hooks that catch and hold the finished bale-ties as they fall from the machine, and the top hooks that lock the depository-hooks, respectively, in their operative and folded positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

IVILLIAM A. LAIDLAWV. In presence of- R. A. BoLioK,

J. J. NORTH. 

